The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-04

sied under all other countries there is no instance
In economic history of growth so rapid. The Inn
ports from Russia during this period though they
have increased in amount have advanced greatly
relatively In the first period they were nearly 10
per cent; IN the second they had somewhat
increased; in the third they receded again; in the
fourth they advanced considerable and in the fifth
period they had receded rapidly than the in
crease between the third and fourth periods The i'm
ports from Germany have decreased from the second
PERIOD, actually as we'll as relatively while relatively
the percentage of decrease has been steadily sinking
rom % to So per cent, next to "a and to Is per
cent and lastly 70 per cent. The capitalization OF
the herman empire the rapid increase of population
the change from agricultural condition to that of
diversified industries all suggest themselves as rea
sons fof this decrease. In Germany, population is
everlasting the foodproducng capacity of the country
Inc committee reproduces a table from what
10 known as the Window report" which is
summary statement of the amount of wheat
inc uding wheat and -FOUR imported into the
I nlted Kingdom from 1860 to 1872 inclusive;
and adds thereto table of its own showing the
same facts from 1873 to 1883, inclusive Com
menting on this table the committee SAYS:
An examination of the table shows that Russia
slul retains the second position, and Germany the
third but the rapid change in eleven years of British
Inaa from thirteenth position to the fourth is the
most noticeable feature of the summary In the next
decade Germany will be practically out of the race
and 1t IS more than probable that India will contest
with the United States for the trs. position. Else
"he1e In the report this phase of the question is dis
cussed at length and many important facts relative
to the cost of producing wheat in India and other
competing countries, rates of freight charges prices
at important points. rates of transportation
etc. are referred to. 1t will also be observed that
comparing the two portions the supply from Russia
dermany and France has decreased actually and rela-
tively, though of course it must be borne in mind
that the Window committee took period of thirteen
years, and this committee period of eleven years;
but after due allowance for this difference there
would still be steady decrease.
One OF the most important features Of the re-
port is the showing. in tabular form, of the
prices 0, wheat for series of years IN the
,4~s~~ AI. I'M
show that the average yearly price of wheat is
lowest In India, ranging from s. cents per
bushel at Calcutta to 81. OF at Bombay, between
1878 and 1888 Russia comes next, the average
. .or the 3, decade heinz 81 % per bushe at War
$l 10 per bushe at Odessa. Austria ranks
third, In the following order Buda- Pesth 81. Is
per bushel; Vienna, 81 % per bushel Trieste.
s 80 per bushel. and Prague 81. 80 per bushel
Inc average price of wheat at AQiers was. for
tue entire period covered in the inquiry 81 %
per bushel; at Smyrna, 81. 30 per bushel, and at
Belruth. 81. Al per bushel In the German en-
pre- the price varies somewhat, according to To-
cation The free port of Bremen appears to en-
JOY the lowest price-$l. 36 per bushel-and, curl
ously enough Stettin, on the Baltic the highest
81. 70 per bushel Next comes the grain center
OF the Rhenish and Westphalia manufacturing
regions, Aachen and Cologne, with 81 60 per
bushel. and ST. So respectively, for eleven years
Inc dlnerence In the price is not marked be-
tween Breslau, in the eastern part of the empire
Lelpslc, IL the central, and Stuttgart in the
southern-$l 40, ST. az and ST. 45 per bushel, re-
spectvely. Tho central position of Berlin, to
gether with the excellent railroad facilities
which extend on all sides into the grain regions.
tends to give that city cheap wheat the average
price being for the eleven years ending in 1888
81 50 per bushel The average price of wheat |
at the principal grain port of ngland was ex
actly $l 50 per pushel, but in the appendix there
are tables which show in detail the average prices
OF all grains in the English markets Rouen |
and Nantes are the cheapest wheat ports in |
France, namely ST.. 48 per bushel and ST. 80 per |
bushe respectively. Bordeaux reaches ST 81 |
per bushel and Marseilles ST. 6I"
Important facts are brought out in relation tn |
ocean transportation and the comparative cost |
OF freight from India, Russia and the United |
States to Great Britain, and table is given |
showing, In comparison, the rates of freight for
cereals during series Of years from the three
principal ports of British India the great north
ern and southern ports of Russia, and the At |
lantlc and Pacific ports of the United States to
treat Britain. OF this table the committee says |
IN part: The general fact. and the one of |
greatest Importance to the United States. is the |
steady decline in the cost of Transportation. and |
the probability that, with increased freight to |
carry, the rates between Europe and the most |
important and nearest ports Of India (Kurrachee /
and Bomb BAY will continue to decline Should |
tnls tendency continue, it will not be long be-
tore the cost OF carrying wheat from India to |
Europe and the United Kingdom |
VIII be as low as between the Atlantic ports and |
those markets"
Tables are also appended showing the ocean |
freichts of grain from nearly every important !
country to England, and also the comparative |
rates of freight charges from the various coun- |
tries of the world.